The Trip Starts Long Before the Plane Takes Off

Some people see trip planning as a chore.

I see it as part of the vacation.

The moment I book a flight, the trip has already started. For the next few weeks or months, little pieces of that destination begin showing up in my daily life. And honestly, I enjoy that almost as much as the trip itself.

The first thing I do is research the destination. Not just the famous landmarks, but the neighborhoods. I want to know where people actually spend their time. Which areas are walkable? Where are the cafés, restaurants, and parks? What part of the city feels like somewhere I’d want to stay?

Once I narrow that down, I start looking at hotels. For me, location is often more important than the hotel itself. I’d rather stay somewhere that lets me step outside and immediately feel connected to the city than spend my days commuting back and forth. It’s worth the extra few dollars per night. I calculate how much an uber back and forth would be and budget it into the hotel cost. (Not to mention, what is your time worth??)

Then comes the fun part.

I watch travel videos. Of course, I’ll watch videos about great restaurants, local favorites, and things to do. But my favorites are the walking tours.

Give me an hour-long video of someone simply walking through the streets of Amsterdam, London, Rome, or wherever I’m headed, and I’m happy.

In fact, I’ll often watch those videos while walking on the treadmill.

It’s one of my favorite travel habits.

I get exercise, I learn the layout of the city, and I start recognizing streets, squares, canals, train stations, and neighborhoods before I ever arrive. By the time I land, parts of the destination already feel familiar.

Those walking videos also help me discover places I might otherwise miss. A café tucked down a side street. A bakery with a line out the door. A neighborhood that wasn’t on any “Top 10” list but suddenly looks like somewhere I want to spend an afternoon.

I use a lot of different resources while planning. Travel blogs. YouTube. Maps. ChatGPT. Restaurant reviews. Train schedules. Weather forecasts. I’ll even look at restaurant menus before deciding whether a place is worth adding to my list. ( this also keeps my old lady readers in my bag at the restaurant- vain? yes. do I care? nope)

I like learning a few local phrases, too. Not enough to become fluent, just enough to show respect and make simple interactions a little easier. Dutch has BY FAR been the most challenging. Although I've been looking at German and I’m not afraid to say that it intimidates me a little as well.

And yes, I still check flights after I’ve booked.

Not because I’m worried.

Because sometimes opportunities appear.

Recently, I booked a trip and later discovered a nonstop flight that hadn’t been available when I originally purchased my ticket. Because I kept checking, I was able to switch to the better flight and even receive money back from the airline.

Sometimes nothing changes.

Sometimes you save money.

Sometimes you end up with a much better itinerary.

That’s why I never completely stop paying attention once a trip is booked.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that I don’t need a minute-by-minute itinerary. I don’t want every day scheduled before I arrive.

Instead, I build a list of possibilities.

A restaurant I’d like to try.

A museum that looks interesting.

A hidden café.

A day trip.

A market.

A scenic walk.

Then when I’m actually there, I can decide what sounds good that day.

The planning isn’t work.

The planning is part of the experience.

For weeks or months before departure, I’m already exploring the destination, learning about it, and imagining myself there. Those little moments of anticipation become bright spots in ordinary days.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

The funny thing is, by the time I finally arrive, I’ve already been there hundreds of times in my mind.

The trip starts the day I book the flight.

The plane just catches up later.

BRB 🐝